SVG Swimming Federation rejects ’claims of snobbery’

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation (SVGSF), through its president, Stephen Joachim, has responded to a claim by US based swimmer, Alex Forbes that he has been debarred from representing the country, although he has Vincentian citizenship.

Forbes, in a letter in this edition of SEARCHLIGHT said he was snubbed by the SVGSF.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation president, Stephen Joachim

“The St. Vincent & the Grenadines Swimming Federation (SVGSF) has repeatedly failed to acknowledge my status as a St Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) swimmer… I have met and/or exceeded the requirements of the Policies for National Team Representation in order to become eligible for selection to any team/squad/roster representing SVG at Regional and International swim competitions”, Forbes said in part in his letter.

However, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT yesterday, November 7 Joachim outlined the organisation’s eligibility policy, noting that whilst Forbes has a valid St Vincent and the Grenadines passport, he does not have all the requirements, more particularly, the residential clause.

According to Joachim, “The policy is that you must be a Vincentian citizen and you must have resided in St Vincent and the Grenadines for at least two years out of the last 10 years…He never resided in St Vincent and the Grenadines”.

Born to a Vincentian father, Forbes has travelled to St Vincent and the Grenadines on occasions to compete in swim meets held at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre.

His last participation was in August of this year, in the SVG Gallagher National Swim Championships. He did so as an unattached swimmer, winning five gold medals in the Men’s 15 and Over age group.

Forbes’ classification as an unattached swimmer, is another bone of contention with the SVGSF.

Joachim holds strongly that Forbes is simply an opportunist who is looking to build his profile at the twilight of his swimming career, with no genuine love for the development of the sport here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“This is a man who simply wants to use St Vincent and the Grenadines’ swimming because he is not good enough for the United States”, Joachim commented.
Noting that Forbes is 35 years old, Joachim contended and questioned: “ How does giving somebody who has never lived in St Vincent and the Grenadines and no real connections to the country , whose father lives in the United States of America… How does that benefit Swimming in St Vincent and the Grenadines…How does that benefit the young people of St Vincent and the Grenadines to select him, instead of a young athlete who has worked hard?”.
Joachim reiterated that “Our policy is to develop young swimmers in St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

RELATED ARTICLE: Representation by SVG team to Commonwealth Games was exemplary – Chief